Thanks for listening to another edition of Rio Blanco County news. Here’s our community newscast for the week of October 29th.
Check this week’s news briefs on page 3A for information on a host of spooky Halloween events, including trick or treat “ at the White River Museum from 5-7 pm, a Halloween parade in front of the Walbridge Wing from 4-5:30 pm, and the ERBM’s annual Pumpkin Eats n’ Treats from 3-5pm.
News briefs on page 3A also list COVID-19 testing locations in Rio Blanco County, news from The Tank Center for Sonic Arts in Rangely, ERBM program updates and an upcoming free legal clinic on November 11th.
Thanks to a large amount of snow arriving on Colorado’s Western Slope this week, many fire restrictions are set to end on Friday. Remember to use fire responsibly as warm weather is set to return next week.
Wildland firefighters from the BLM’s White River Field Office in Meeker made state and national news this week for leaving a handwritten note at a home in the path of the East Troublesome Fire in Grand County. Read more about the crew’s efforts on the front page.
Also on a front page, see a photo from the annual 4-H Night at Hogwarts fundraiser last Saturday. A reminder to drop off your mail ballot, and another dive into Rio Blanco County’s ongoing budget process. This week’s story focuses on the Sales & Use Tax department, which has already agreed to major cuts in 2021 and could go away entirely after next June, despite generating nearly $2 million in revenue for the county this year.
In more county news, Rio Blanco has seen another uptick in COVID-19 cases, with four positives reported in the last seven days. Public Health Director Alice Harvey warned that the county was on the verge of community transmission, and reminded residents to be vigilant. Nationwide more than 40 states including Colorado are reporting a surge in case counts, hospitalizations and deaths. More is on page 2A. County Public Health also shared recommendations for 2020 trick-or-treating on page 4A. Stick around that neighbor for this week’s editor’s column on the value of public participation, and Meeker High School senior and HT Intern Sophie Geodert’s update on how high school students are handling and adapting to homecoming in the middle of a pandemic.
While you’re there don’t forget to take a peek at upcoming CNCC programs in Meeker, including topics like basic search and rescue, women’s self defense, truffle making, decorative candies and more.
Resurfacing on Colorado Highway 64 is complete. The 18 mile project focused on a 1-inch leveling and 1.5-inch hot mix asphalt (HMA) overlay and the installation of new guardrail. The HMA is expected to add 10 years of life to the highway.
With a few days until the 2020 election, the HT asked RBC Clerk and Recorder Boots Campbell about voter turnout so far this election. 4,240 ballots were sent out. 112 (2.64%) were undeliverable and 1,900 (44.8%) have been returned.
And an upcoming Yampa-White-Green basin roundtable meeting has an “action packed” agenda, including YWG Basin Roundtable’s proposed position statement on Demand Management, the White River Integrated Water Initiative grant request, Updates from the Yampa River Integrated Water Management Plan (IWMP) and more.
All those updates, Highway 64 resurfacing, voter turnout, the water conservation corner and results from the 2020 elk bugling contest are on page 5A.
The full transcript of this episode is available at https://tinyurl.com/rbcnews28
